I didn’t know it existed until I moved to Brixton. Brockwell Park has been a revelation to me, it’s beautiful with many secrets. Check out the outdoor theatre in the summer up by the old house - Midsummer Night’s Dream last year on a midsummer’s night was astoundingly good.

Warm summer nights should be spent in the high grass in Hampstead Heath above the ponds. For midsummer bring herring, snaps and songs and stay until sunrise!

A very good selection of non-fiction, essays, and rare books. The Japanese book collection is gorgeous!

Half a mile from Markfield Park down the River Lee is Springfield Park. The park rises steeply up from the river and has an amazing array of tree species making it beautiful in all seasons. At the brim of the hill there is a line of park benches each one surrounded by box hedge offering a private view across the Lee Valley, Walthamstow and beyond. The park warden was nice enough to give me a chestnut log a couple of years ago from which I carved a bench and two stools.

A contemporary café, great for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, on the top floor of Dover Street Market, just of Picadilly Circus.